Self-aligning devices and methods for lifting and securing structures

Abstract

The present invention provides novel lifting devices and methods for lifting foundations and slabs. One or more power cylinders is pivotally linked to a pier and to a foundation bracket assembly. The pivotal linkage results in self-alignment between the longitudinal axis of the pier and the axis along which compressive pressure is applied to the pier.

I claim: 
     
       1. A lifting device suitable for lifting and securing a foundation element comprising: a) a first power cylinder having (1) a first end and (2) a second end;   b) a second power cylinder having (1) a first end and (2) a second end, wherein the second power cylinder is substantially identical to the first power cylinder;   c) a first clevis connector attached to the first end of the first power cylinder, wherein the first clevis connector has (1) a first area defining an aperture having a predetermined diameter and (2) a second area defining an aperture having a predetermined diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the first aperture;   d) a second clevis connector attached to the second end of the first power cylinder, wherein the second clevis connector has (1) a third area defining an aperture having a predetermined diameter and (2) a fourth area defining an aperture having a predetermined diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the third aperture;   e) a third clevis connector attached to the first end of the second power cylinder wherein the third clevis connector has (1) a fifth area defining an aperture having a predetermined diameter and (2) a sixth area defining an aperture having a predetermined diameter approximately equal to the predetermined diameter of the fifth aperture;   f) fourth clevis connector attached to the second end of the second power cylinder, wherein the fourth clevis connector has (1) a seventh area defining an aperture having a predetermined diameter and (2) an eighth area defining an aperture having a predetermined diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the seventh aperture;   g) a pier guiding means adapted for slidably receiving a pier, wherein the pier guiding means has (1) a center and (2) a longitudinal axis through the center;   h) a pier securing means adapted for selectively securing the pier to the pier guiding means when the foundation element is lifted to a predetermined level;   i) a foundation attachment means for attaching the lifting device to the foundation element, wherein the foundation attachment means is mounted to the pier guiding means;   j) a power cylinder yoke mounted to the pier guiding means;   k) a power cylinder yoke coupling means comprising: (1) a first yoke pivotal fastener for pivotally coupling the first clevis connector to the power cylinder yoke, wherein the first yoke pivotal fastener has a fastener shaft having a diameter which is 1/32 inch to 1/8 inch smaller than the diameter of the first aperture and (2) a second yoke pivotal fastener for pivotally coupling the third clevis connector to the power cylinder yoke, wherein the second pivotal fastener has a fastener shaft having a diameter which is 1/32 inch to 1/8 inch smaller than the diameter of the fifth aperture;   l) an articulating bracket;   m) a pier compression means adapted for compressibly engaging the pier;   n) a first pier compression pivotal fastener for pivotally coupling the pier compression means to the articulating bracket; and   o) an articulating bracket coupling means comprising: (1) a first articulating bracket pivotal fastener for pivotally coupling the second clevis connector to the articulating bracket, wherein the first articulating bracket pivotal fastener has a fastener shaft having a diameter which is 1/32 inch to 1/8 inch smaller than the diameter of the third aperture and (2) a second articulating bracket pivotal fastener for pivotally coupling the fourth clevis connector to the articulating bracket, wherein the second articulating bracket pivotal fastener has a fastener shaft having a diameter which is 1/32 inch to 1/8 inch smaller than the diameter of the seventh aperture, whereby the pier compression means is pivotally linked to the power cylinder yoke.   
     
     
       2. The lifting device according to claim 1 additionally comprising the pier having (1) a predetermined outer profile, (2) a predetermined outer diameter and (3) a predetermined inner diameter, wherein the pier is slidably received by the pier guiding means and wherein the pier is compressibly engaged by the pier compression means, whereby the pier is pivotally linked to the power cylinder yoke. 
     
     
       3. The lifting device according to claim 2 wherein the pier comprises two or more pier sections secured together in an end-to-end relationship. 
     
     
       4. The lifting device according to claim 2 wherein the first and second yoke pivotal fastener, the first and second articulating bracket pivotal fastener, and the first pier compression pivotal fastener are selected from the group of fasteners consisting of bolt and nut combinations, clevis pin and cotter pin combinations, clevis pins and cylindrical pins. 
     
     
       5. The lifting device according to claim 2 having a first power cylinder comprising: a) a hydraulic cylinder having (1) a first end, (2) a second end and (3) a predetermined outer diameter;   b) a piston reciprocally moveable within the hydraulic cylinder;   c) a ram attached to the piston having (1) a ram first end and (2) a ram second end, wherein the ram first end is distal from the piston and wherein the ram extends from the second end of the hydraulic cylinder;   d) a power cylinder first end coinciding with the hydraulic cylinder first end; and   e) a power cylinder second end coinciding with the ram first end.   
     
     
       6. The lifting device according to claim 5 wherein the power cylinder comprises a double acting hydraulic jack. 
     
     
       7. The lifting device according to claim 2 wherein the pier guiding means comprises a guide tube having (1) a tube wall, (2) an outside surface, (3) an inner profile substantially similar to the outer profile of the pier and (4) a predetermined inner diameter which exceeds the outer diameter of the pier by a predetermined measure E. 
     
     
       8. The lifting device according to claim 7 wherein the predetermined measure E is at least 1/16 inch. 
     
     
       9. The lifting device according to claim 2 wherein the pier securing means comprises: a) at least one section defining a through-hole through the wall of the guide tube; and   b) at least one pier fastener extending through the through hole in the wall of the guide tube, wherein the pier fastener is selected from the group consisting of bolts, screws, rivets, pins and rods.   
     
     
       10. The lifting device according to claim 2 wherein the pier securing means comprises a fastening means selected from the group consisting of clamping, welding, and adhesively bonding. 
     
     
       11. The lifting device according to claim 2 wherein the foundation attachment means is selected from the group consisting of a support plate adapted for disposing underneath the foundation element, a support arm adapted for disposing underneath the foundation element, a plate adapted for securing to the foundation element and a rod directed radially from the guide tube for insertion into an area defining a hole in the foundation element. 
     
     
       12. The lifting device according to claim 2 wherein the power cylinder yoke comprises: a) a first cylinder mounting plate secured to the pier guiding means such that the plane of the first cylinder mounting plate substantially coincides with the longitudinal axis of the pier guiding means, in which the first cylinder mounting plate has an area defining a through-hole having a predetermined diameter for receiving the fastener shaft of the first yoke pivotal fastener wherein the through-hole is spaced a predetermined distance G from the longitudinal axis of the pier guiding means in which G ranges from about 3 inches to about 12 inches;   b) a second cylinder mounting plate secured to the pier guiding means such that the second cylinder mounting plate is positioned opposite the first cylinder mounting plate and the plane of the second cylinder mounting plate substantially coincides with the longitudinal axis of the pier guiding means, in which the second cylinder mounting plate has an area defining a through-hole having a predetermined diameter for receiving the fastener shaft of the second yoke pivotal fastener wherein the through-hole is spaced a predetermined distance G from the longitudinal axis of the pier guiding means.   
     
     
       13. The lifting device according to claim 12 wherein the articulating bracket comprises an articulating bar having (1) a first end wherein the first end has an area defining a through-hole having a predetermined diameter for receiving the fastener shaft of the first articulating bracket pivotal fastener, (2) a second end wherein the second end has an area defining a through-hole having a predetermined diameter for receiving the fastener shaft of the second articulating bracket pivotal fastener and (3) a midpoint centrally positioned between the articulating bar first end through-hole and the articulating bar second end through-hole, in which the midpoint is positioned at a distance G from the articulating bar first through-hole and from the articulating bar second through-hole, wherein the articulating bar midpoint has an area defining a through-hole for receiving the first pier compression pivotal fastener. 
     
     
       14. The lifting device according to claim 13 wherein the pier compression means comprises a plug-shaped member having (1) a first end having an area defining a through-hole having a longitudinal axis, for receiving the first pier compression pivotal fastener, (2) a second end having a predetermined outer diameter which is smaller than the predetermined inner diameter of the pier and (3) an enlarged portion intermediate it first end and its second end having a predetermined diameter which is greater than the inner diameter of the pier. 
     
     
       15. The lifting device according to claim 14 wherein the first end of the pier compression means has a portion defining a slot for receiving the articulating bar, wherein the plane of the slot is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the compression means through-hole. 
     
     
       16. The lifting device according to claim 12 additionally comprising a second pier compression pivotal fastener for pivotally coupling the pier compression means to the articulating bracket. 
     
     
       17. The lifting device according to claim 16 wherein the articulating bracket comprises: a) a slip coupling ring having (1) a cylindrical axis, (2) an inner diameter ranging from about 1 inch to about 12 inches, (3) a first area defining a through-hole for receiving the first pier compression pivotal fastener and (4) a second area defining a through-hole for receiving the second pier compression pivotal fastener, wherein the second through-hole is positioned opposite the first slip coupling ring through-hole;   b) a plate-like first mounting tab attached to the slip coupling ring such that the first mounting tab is equidistant between the first and second slip coupling through-holes and the plane of the first mounting tab substantially coincides with the cylindrical axis of the slip coupling ring, wherein the first mounting tab has an area defining a through-hole having a predetermined diameter for receiving the fastener shaft of the first articulating bracket pivotal fastener, in which the first mounting tab through-hole is spaced a predetermined distance G from the cylindrical axis of the slip coupling ring; and   c) a plate-like second mounting tab attached to the slip coupling ring such that the second mounting tab is positioned opposite the first mounting tab wherein the second mounting tab is equidistant between the first and second slip coupling through-holes and the plane of the second mounting tab substantially coincides with the cylindrical axis of the slip coupling ring, wherein the second mounting tab has an area defining a through-hole having a predetermined diameter for receiving the fastener shaft of the second articulating bracket pivotal fastener, in which the second mounting tab through-hole is spaced a predetermined distance G from the cylindrical axis of the slip coupling ring.   
     
     
       18. The lifting device according to claim 17 wherein the pier compression means comprises a slip coupling for receiving the pier, having (1) a first area defining a through-hole for receiving the first pier compression pivotal fastener and (2) a second area defining a through-hole for receiving the second pier compression pivotal fastener, wherein the second through-hole is positioned opposite the first slip coupling through-hole. 
     
     
       19. A lifting device suitable for lifting and securing a foundation element comprising: a) a power cylinder having (1) a first end and (2) a second end;   b) a pier guiding means adapted for slidably receiving a pier, wherein the pier guiding means has (1) a center and (2) a longitudinal axis through the center;   c) a pier securing means adapted for selectively securing the pier to the pier guiding means when the foundation element is lifted to a predetermined level;   d) a foundation attachment means for attaching the lifting device to the foundation element, wherein the foundation attachment means is mounted to the pier guiding means;   e) power cylinder yoke mounted to the pier guiding means;   f) a first upright member having (1) a first end and (2) a second end;   g) a second upright member having (1) a first end and (2) a second end, wherein the second upright member is substantially identical to the first upright member:   h) a first clevis connector attached to the first end of the first upright member, wherein the first clevis connector has (1) a first area defining an aperture having a predetermined diameter and (2) a second area defining a aperture having a predetermined diameter approximately equal the diameter of the first aperture;   i) a second clevis connector attached to the second end of the first upright member, wherein the second clevis connector has (1) a third area defining an aperture having a predetermined diameter and (2) a fourth area defining an aperture having a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the third aperture;   j) a third clevis connector attached to the first end of the second upright member, wherein the third clevis connector has (1) a fifth area defining an aperture having a predetermined diameter and (2) a sixth area defining an aperture having a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the fifth aperture;   k) a fourth clevis connector attached to the second end of the second upright member, wherein the fourth clevis connector has (1) a seventh area defining a aperture having a predetermined diameter and (2) an eighth area defining an aperture having a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the seventh aperture;   l) a yoke coupling means comprising: (1) a yoke first pivotal fastener for pivotally coupling the first clevis connector to the power cylinder yoke, wherein the first pivotal fastener has a fastener shaft having a diameter which is 1/32 inch to 1/8 inch smaller than the diameter of the first aperture and (2) a second yoke pivotal fastener for pivotally coupling the third clevis connector to the power cylinder yoke, wherein the second yoke pivotal fastener has a fastener shaft having a diameter which is 1/32 inch to 1/8 inch smaller than the diameter of the fifth aperture:   m) a cylinder bracket mounted to the first end of the power cylinder;   n) a fifth clevis connector mounted to the second end of the power cylinder;   o) pier compression means adapted for compressibly engaging the pier;   p) pier compression pivotal fastener pivotally coupling the pier compression means to the fifth clevis connector; and   q) a cylinder bracket coupling means comprising: (1) a first cylinder bracket pivotal fastener for pivotally coupling the second clevis connector to the cylinder bracket, wherein the first cylinder bracket pivotal fastener has a fastener shaft having a diameter which is 1/32 inch to 1/8 inch smaller than the diameter of the third aperture and (2) a second cylinder bracket pivotal fastener for pivotally coupling the fourth clevis connector to the cylinder bracket, wherein the second cylinder bracket pivotal fastener has a fastener shaft having a diameter which is 1/32 inch to 1/8 inch smaller than the diameter of the seventh aperture, whereby the pier compression means is pivotally linked to the power cylinder yoke.   
     
     
       20. The lifting device according to claim 19 additionally comprising the pier having (1) a predetermined outer profile, (2) a predetermined outer diameter and (3) a predetermined inner diameter, wherein the pier is slidably received by the pier guiding means and wherein the pier is compressibly engaged by the pier compression means, whereby the pier is pivotally linked to the power cylinder yoke. 
     
     
       21. The lifting device according to claim 20 wherein the power cylinder yoke comprises: a) a first cylinder mounting plate secured to the pier guiding means such that the plane of the first cylinder mounting plate substantially coincides with the longitudinal axis of the pier guiding means, in which the first cylinder mounting plate has an area defining a through-hole having a predetermined diameter for receiving the fastener shaft of the first yoke pivotal fastener wherein the through-hole is spaced a predetermined distance R from the longitudinal axis of the pier guiding means, in which R ranges from about 3 inches to about 12 inches;   b) a second cylinder mounting plate secured to the pier guiding means such that the second cylinder mounting plate is positioned opposite the first cylinder mounting plate and the plane of the second cylinder mounting plate substantially coincides with the longitudinal axis of the pier guiding means, in which the second cylinder mounting plate has an area defining a through-hole having a predetermined diameter for receiving the fastener shaft of the second yoke pivotal fastener wherein the through-hole is spaced a predetermined distance R from the longitudinal axis of the pier guiding means.   
     
     
       22. The lifting device according to the claim 21 wherein the cylinder bracket has (1) a first end having an area defining a through-hole having a predetermined diameter for receiving the fastener shaft of the first cylinder bracket pivotal fastener, (2) a second end having and area defining a through-hole having a predetermined diameter for receiving the fastener shaft of the second cylinder bracket pivotal fastener and (3) a midpoint centrally positioned between the cylinder bracket first end through-hole and second end through-hole, in which the midpoint is positioned a distance R from the cylinder bracket first through-hole and from the cylinder bracket second through-hole, wherein the cylinder bracket midpoint is secured to the first end of the power cylinder. 
     
     
       23. The lifting device according to claim 20 wherein the pier compression means comprises a plug-shaped member having (1) a first end having an area defining a through-hole for receiving the pier compression pivotal fastener, (2) a second end having a predetermined outer diameter which is smaller than the predetermined inner diameter of the pier and (3) an enlarged portion intermediate its first end and its second end having a predetermined diameter which is greater than the inner diameter of the pier.